London mayor urged to raise SUV parking fees

Driving an SUV in London could become more expensive

Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan has been urged to seek to increase taxes and parking fees for SUVs.

London Assembly Members agreed a motion calling on him to take action over fears the increasing size of cars is damaging roads, causing congestion and putting other road users at greater risk of death and serious injury.

The assembly called on Sir Sadiq to ask the Treasury to amend vehicle excise duty to include a tax based on vehicle weight.

It also wants the mayor to ask councils in the capital to consider charging more for parking larger cars, and to call on the Department for Transport to introduce stricter limits on the size and bonnet height of passenger vehicles.

The London Assembly want mayor Sir Sadiq Khan to ask the Treasury to amend vehicle duty to include a weight tax

The motion was agreed by 14 votes in favour and eight against.

SUVs have become more popular in recent years, with many drivers preferring the higher seating position.

They accounted for a third of all new car registrations in the UK last year, compared with 12% a decade earlier.

SUVs are generally taller, wider and heavier than traditional cars, and less fuel-efficient.

The size increase has been dubbed "carspreading".

Labour London Assembly Member Elly Baker, who proposed the motion, said the capital's streets "weren't designed for larger vehicles like SUVs".

She added: "Their greater size, weight, and higher bonnets put vulnerable road users at greater risk, reduce available parking spaces, and cause more wear and tear on our roads.

"It's time we took sensible steps to manage the impact of oversized cars and ensure our streets remain safe and accessible."

AA president Edmund King insisted it was "up to Londoners to choose the type of vehicle that best fulfils their needs".

He said: "It is not really the role of the London Assembly to dictate what cars individuals should drive.

"Some larger families may well need bigger vehicles with more passenger seats, whereas a driver conducting most trips alone may well choose a city car.

"London's streets were developed around the horse and cart, so of course our infrastructure needs modernising to keep up with change."

A recent study found pedestrians and cyclists are 44% more likely to die if they are hit by an SUV or similar-sized vehicle rather than a traditional car.

The analysis by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and Imperial College London stated the figure rises to 82% for children.

A Mayor of London spokesman said: "The mayor, Transport for London and borough partners are working to eliminate deaths and serious injuries on our roads, by expanding the cycle network, making road crossings and junctions safer, reducing speed limits on our roads, and making larger vehicles like HGVs and buses safer.

"This year the mayor will be refreshing his Vision Zero action plan to restate his commitment to reducing road danger and responding to new and emerging risks on our roads."

The Treasury has been approached for comment.